Passing away

Inside the Zhenguan Hall, a chessboard was placed on the table in the main hall. The black piece had been cornered by the white piece. Xiao Wan'er took the black piece, looked left and right, and finally admitted defeat.

"Your Majesty is a master of chess, and I cannot compare with him."

Shangguan Wan'er placed the tea next to the two of them and was about to bow and leave when the empress raised her hand to ask her to stay.

"You sit down too and chat with me and Vice Captain Xiao."

"You've all read the petition from Lai Junchen's faction. What are your thoughts?" Although Lai Junchen was dead and his clan was exterminated, his followers still existed. Fearing their own demise, these officials signed a joint petition, pleading with the Empress to spare their lives.

"Your Majesty, I believe that the desire to survive is indeed a human instinct. If they only serve under Lai Junchen and have not done any other evil things, it is not a bad idea to let them go." Xiao Wan'er chose to plead for those officials who had not harmed anyone.

The empress listened with a smile and then asked Shangguan Wan'er, "What does my other Wan'er think?"

Shangguan Wan'er bowed her head respectfully, her shoulders and neck revealing an elegant curve. "I believe Your Majesty has made a decision."

"Then let's do as Lord Xiao said, let those who haven't done any evil do a favor!"

Just through a casual chat, many officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty escaped a catastrophic disaster.

Along with the empress's pardon decree, several appointments were sent out of Taichu Palace: Wu Yizong, Lou Shide, and Di Renjie were sent to pacify Hebei separately, and Fengming Wei Geng's seven teams accompanied them on inspection.

"Thanks to Deputy Captain Xiao's righteous words today, innocent officials were spared from being implicated." Shangguan Wan'er escorted Xiao Wan'er out of the palace. When they arrived at the palace gate, she suddenly bowed and expressed her gratitude.

Xiao Wan'er immediately supported her, "Sir Shangguan, there's no need to do this. Your Majesty is wise and wise. Even if I weren't there, he wouldn't have implicated innocent people."

Shangguan Wan'er didn't respond to this, but only reached out and touched the red plum makeup on her face. After a long while, she said, "If Vice Captain Xiao doesn't mind me, you can call me sister from now on."

"How could I dislike it? It's my honor to be able to call a sister a talented woman like Sister Shangguan!" Xiao Wan'er was very happy and spoke with more excitement.

After leaving the palace, she ran to the South Market, bought flour and seasonings and went home to make fried noodles, just as she had done before when she conquered the Khitan.

Pei Yingguan left the capital with Team Gengqi the next day, but Xiao Wan'er still had doubts in her heart.

"Your Majesty, knowing that Senior Brother is dissatisfied with her, will you let him leave Shendu like this?"

As soon as she asked the question, she was hit on the head by Liuyun.

"The deputy captain of Team Geng 7 is a close confidant of His Majesty," Liu Yun sighed as he looked at Xiao Wan'er, who was clutching her forehead. "At least one of the captains and deputy captains of every Fengming Guard team is a close confidant of His Majesty. Wan'er, we are indeed cultivators, but now that we've entered the court, you must know the basic common sense of being an official."

"Oh," Xiao Wan'er said in a muffled voice, "I'll learn."

With internal and external troubles eliminated, the capital city of the gods once again found peace. Although there were disputes during the process of pacifying Hebei, they were properly resolved, and the last few months of the second year of Wansui Tongtian finally passed in peace and stability.

It was New Year's Eve again, and the Empress held a banquet in the palace as usual. Liuyun and Xiao Wan'er, both of whom were from the fifth rank, were both going to attend.

"Master and I are leaving now. Junior brother, you have to take good care of the house!" Before leaving, Xiao Wan'er touched Liu Mingyin's head. Although he looked aggrieved, he still nodded in agreement.

Xiao Wan'er, dressed in formal attire and wearing a five-color ornament on her head, sat at the end of the banquet. Most of the guests at the banquet were high-ranking officials and nobles, with the commander and deputy commander of the Fengming Guard being the lowest-ranking. Xiao Wan'er was able to attend the banquet exceptionally because of her status as a county lady. After taking her seat, she glanced around but didn't see Huai Ming.

Not long after the banquet began, a palace servant suddenly rushed in, walked quickly to the queen's side, and whispered something in her ear without even having time to greet her.

The queen's smile suddenly stopped, and she hurriedly announced the end of the banquet and left.

While all the ministers were astonished, Xiao Wan'er quickly finished the food in front of her, and only left with Liuyun after she was half full.

When they got home, Liu Mingyin was still cooking dinner. Liuyun simply took out some more ingredients, and the three of them cooked a big meal together. They ate around the table and then started to stay up all night to celebrate the New Year.

At the side gate of Taichu Palace, a carriage sped out of the palace gate at top speed, heading straight for the residence of Huai Ming, the commander of the Fengming Guard. Upon arriving at her destination, the empress stepped down from the carriage with a solemn expression and pushed the door open.

"Your Majesty." Huai Ming's disciples had sad eyes and had no intention of greeting the empress when they saw her, and the empress did not pursue their disrespect.

"How is your master now?"

"Master is just holding on, waiting for Your Majesty to come." Yuan Kong walked out from the disciples and brought the Queen to Huai Ming.

Huai Ming sat on the bed, and when he heard footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes, "Your Majesty, you are here."

"Master, I'm here." Seeing the person who had assisted her all the way approaching the end of his life, the Queen's voice was also tinged with sadness.

Huai Ming himself was quite open-minded and even comforted the empress: "Your Majesty, there is no need to be sad. Birth, aging, sickness and death are inevitable. It is simply time for me to leave. However, if there are some things I have not reported to Your Majesty, I would feel uneasy even if I leave."

"Master, please speak."

"I recently performed divination, and Your Majesty should appoint the two heirs as the heir apparent," Huai Ming began coughing mid-sentence. He finally stopped coughing and continued his advice. "After all, the two heirs are Your Majesty's children, and it is only right that they should be appointed as crown princes. If one of the Wu princes ascends the throne in the future, the other princes will inevitably be dissatisfied and may even seize power violently. Moreover, if the Wu prince ascends the throne, the one who will be enshrined first will be your brother, whom Your Majesty once punished."

Regardless of other reasons, at least Huai Ming's last reason really convinced the Queen. She could not tolerate the person who had bullied her and her mother being offered before her.

"Master, I remember what you said."

"Ahem, I have one more thing to say," Huai Ming, breathing in more than out, forced himself to finish his last words. "Yuan Kong is not yet qualified to be the commander of the Fengming Guard. After I pass away, Liu Yun will succeed him. I have created a method to ensure his loyalty to Your Majesty. It is on the desk I often use."

As he spoke, he pointed to the desk he often used for reading. The books were stacked on the desk, on either side. In the middle lay a piece of paper covered in writing, held down by a paperweight—a method he had invented.

"I understand. Master, do you have any last wishes?" The Queen's hands had unconsciously clenched.

"No. The first half of my life was unremarkable, lost among the other monks. To have discovered Your Majesty in your later years, to serve Your Majesty loyally, and to become one of Your Majesty's subjects is already the greatest blessing of my life. I will not be able to accompany Your Majesty from now on, but I wish Your Majesty all the best."

"It is a great blessing in my life to have the assistance of the master." Huai Ming passed away with a smile amid the Queen's gratitude.

It was just after midnight, and the entire city was celebrating the arrival of the new year. Liuyun was about to drink some Tusu wine when he suddenly seemed to have a feeling and looked towards Huaiming's residence.

"Master, what's wrong?" Liu Mingyin asked in confusion when she saw him suddenly stop drinking.

"Nothing," Liuyun came back to his senses and drank the Tusu wine in one gulp. He then handed the New Year's money to his two apprentices and urged them to go to bed. "There will be a big court meeting after dawn, so go and rest."

Xiao Wan'er and Liu Mingyin both went back to their rooms to meditate obediently.

When the time came, the three of them went to attend the grand court meeting. Liuyun and Liu Mingyin were both dressed in official uniforms, while Xiao Wan'er wore a phoenix robe and a five-flowered crown on her head.

The Empress also attended the court meeting on time, acting as if nothing had happened, as if the cancelled banquet had never taken place. Yuan Kong also appeared at the court meeting with his fellow disciples on duty at Fengming Guard. Aside from the slightly reddened eyes, he looked no different than usual.

After the grand court meeting ended smoothly, the master and his disciples returned home. Only then did Liuyun say, "Huai Ming must have passed away."

"Last night?" Xiao Wan'er made an immediate judgment.

"Last night at midnight."

From Liuyun's answer, Xiao Wan'er guessed that it was the time when Zizheng Liuyun stopped drinking Tusu wine.

"Then will Master become the leader of Fengming Guard?" Liu Mingyin's eyes lit up at the thought that his master might be promoted.

"I don't know either." Liuyun was not optimistic about this.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Xiao Wan'er returned to the Xiao family home with her master and fellow apprentices. Ever since learning their daughter had settled in the capital and taken up a position as an official, the Xiao family had sent their steward to deliver messages, hoping to find a time to visit or perhaps request that Liuyun allow Xiao Wan'er to return home. However, Xiao Wan'er initially left the capital upon order, and upon her return, Liuyun remained silent. It wasn't until the Lunar New Year that he finally agreed to allow Xiao Wan'er to return home to visit her family.

Seeing their daughter return with her master and fellow apprentices, Mr. and Mrs. Xiao were overjoyed. They took them out for a good trip and then prepared a big meal. After seeing Xiao Wan'er eat with relish, they reluctantly said goodbye to her.

After that, no imperial decree was issued from the palace, as if Huaiming's death was just Liuyun's misjudgment.

Until the end of the first month, an imperial edict broke the peace of the Great Zhou Dynasty - the empress appointed the crown prince as the heir.

Upon receiving the imperial edict, the newly crowned prince wept with joy. He had once been a crown prince, and had ascended the throne to become emperor, but was later abandoned and his family exiled to Fangzhou. Now that he was crown prince once again, his entire family could return to the Divine Capital. He finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

Huang Silun and Princess Taiping were overjoyed upon hearing the news. Huang Silun was especially pleased, as he was able to change his name back and be made Prince Xiang. His life of being the target of criticism since the empress ascended the throne was finally over.

After the crown prince was appointed, there was another round of personnel appointments and dismissals.

Fengming Guard Commander Huai Ming, who dedicated himself to the Great Zhou, has passed away peacefully and has been posthumously awarded the title of First-Rank Grand Master and the posthumous title of Zhonghui. Fengming Guard Deputy Commander Liu Yun has taken over as Commander. Fengming Guard First Squad Captain Yuan Kong has been promoted to Deputy Commander. Fengming Guard First Squad Deputy Captain Xiao Wan'er has been promoted to Captain. Fengming Guard member Yuan Hui, a disciple of the former Commander, has been promoted to Deputy Captain of Fengming Guard First Squad.

"I accept your command and thank you." Liuyun and Xiao Wan'er took the imperial edict and were about to give the eunuch who delivered the edict a reward when they heard the eunuch reading out the empress's oral order.

"His Majesty has ordered Commander Liuyun to come to the palace for an audience."

Xiao Wan'er and Liu Mingyin looked at each other, both having a bad premonition. However, Liuyun very readily followed the eunuch into the palace and did not return until that evening.

"Master, why did His Majesty call you into the palace?"

"It's nothing serious. I just discussed the Fengming Guard affairs with my master. Go and meditate now."

Seeing that Liuyun was fine, Xiao Wan'er felt relieved and devoted herself to cultivation.